Food Bank For New York City Continues Critical Food Distribution as Hurricane Sandy Hits

(New York, NY) October 29, 2012 -- Food Bank For New York City will be open on Monday, October 29 with leaders operating from the organization's the Bronx and Harlem facilities. As Hurricane Sandy hits New York City, Food Bank will continue to distribute critical food supplies to emergency feeding programs, operational soup kitchens, food pantries, senior centers and agencies in areas of the city not under mandatory evacuation. Trucks will begin to depart from from the organization's Bronx warehouse at 6:00 a.m. with the goal of making all scheduled deliveries safely and responsibly in full compliance with New York City disaster response protocols.

"Food Bank For New York City is actively working to fulfill two main priorities: services to our members and services to the clients of our kitchen and pantry," said President and CEO Margarette Purvis. "The storm takes on a whole new dimension for our network because we're at the end of the month when many families find themselves using our programs because their resources have run out. With this in mind, maintaining services for our neediest neighbors during this time of crisis is critical. We're also contacting our most active member agencies to determine food supply needs and are preparing to send emergency trucks as available."

Food Bank's Community Kitchen & Pantry of West Harlem, located at 252 West 116th Street, will open at 9:00 a.m. and will provide dinner service from 4:00-6:00 p.m. 150 Emergency pantry bags have already been prepared and will be made available to the public. The Harlem site will also be equipped to help any client find the nearest shelter if they're unaware or not associated with housing.

New York City has set up 76 official evacuation shelters for immediate assistance. Please visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/hurricane_shelters.html for the full list of designated emergency shelters or call 311 for more information.

Please continue to check www.foodbanknyc.org for further updates on Food Bank For New York City services as severe weather conditions continue.

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About the Food Bank For New York City .

Food Bank For New York City is recognized as the city's major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs. As the city's hub for integrated food poverty assistance, the Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts - food distribution, income support and nutrition education - all strategically guided by its research. Through its network of 1,000 community-based member programs citywide, the Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. The Food Bank's hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools reaches 35,000 children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps, free tax assistance for the working poor and the Earned Income Tax Credit put millions of dollars back in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve greater dignity and independence. Ninety-four percent of donations go directly toward programs in all five boroughs. Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.

(New York, NY) November 1, 2012 -- Food Bank is continuing to distribute critical food supplies to emergency feeding programs, operational soup kitchens, food pantries, senior centers and agencies in areas of the city not under mandatory evacuation. Trucks are departing from from the organization's Bronx warehouse at 6:00 a.m. each morning with the goal of making all scheduled deliveries safely and responsibly in full compliance with New York City disaster response protocols.

Food Bank's Community Kitchen & Pantry of West Harlem, located at 252 West 116th Street, will open at 9:00 a.m. and will provide pantry bags between 10:30-3 and hot meals from 2:00-2:00 p.m. The Harlem site is also equipped to help any client find the nearest shelter if they're unaware or not associated with housing.

New York City has set up 76 official evacuation shelters for immediate assistance. Please visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/hurricane_shelters.html for the full list of designated emergency shelters or call 311 for more information.

Please continue to check www.foodbanknyc.org for further updates on Food Bank For New York City services.

Natural disasters have a disproportionate effect on people with little or no savings, those least able to bounce back. People who suffer from lost income or property due to the storm will have difficulty affording food afterward.

Last year, throughout Hurricane Irene, Food Bank helped provide assistance to thousands of New Yorkers who lost food to flooding, power outages, and the need to evacuate their homes. We will continue to monitor the need of our network and clients throughout the storm and provide the necessary relief and support.

About the Food Bank For New York City

Food Bank For New York City is recognized as the city's major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs. As the city's hub for integrated food poverty assistance, the Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts - food distribution, income support and nutrition education - all strategically guided by its research. Through its network of 1,000 community-based member programs citywide, the Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. The Food Bank's hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools reaches 35,000 children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps, free tax assistance for the working poor and the Earned Income Tax Credit put millions of dollars back in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve greater dignity and independence. Ninety-four percent of donations go directly toward programs in all five boroughs. Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.